WPC Polls:

UPFA will bag Colombo city too - Minister

Rasika SOMARATHNA

The Colombo city, considered as the United National Party’s last remaining stronghold (according to UNP) too would fall at the end of the forthcoming Western Provincial Council elections, the United People’s Freedom Alliance, predicted yesterday.

Addressing the media, Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said the mandate received by the UPFA from the Central Province (considered as a traditional UNP stronghold) at the concluded PC poll, was a clear indication of things to come during the Western PC election, scheduled for April 25.

The Minister pointed out that out of 36 electoral districts in the Western Province, the UPFA had only lost nine at the last Presidential Elections. Out of this seven had been from Colombo and two from Gampaha.

But considering the present popularity of the Government indications are that the UPFA would make a clean sweep in the Western Province, the Minister noted.

He added that the UPFA campaign for stakes in the Western Province would be conducted in a very advanced, scientific and disciplined manner, in line with the Party’s successful experiences in the recent past.

In addition the UPFA’s campaign would be worked off using a seven tier management unit, with each having specific targets, to effectively reach out to a 3.8 million voter base in the Western Province the Minister added. He noted that infighting withing party ranks would not be tolerated. In addition the UPFA was always supportive of election related laws being effectively implemented by both the Police and the election authorities, Minister Alahapperuma added.

The maiden UPFA media briefing in support of the upcoming Western PC polls was also attended by Ministers Patali Champika Ranawaka, Susil Premajayantha and Maithripala Sirisena.